The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Cumberland woman was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison for failing to report funds to the IRS that she embezzled from her employer. 67-year old Kathy Joan Cullen was ordered to serve one year of supervised release following her term of incarceration and was ordered to pay restitution in the amounts of  more than 1.38-million dollars ($1,384,374.24 to be exact), to 21st Century Cooperative. Cullen is also required to pay $422,411 to the Internal Revenue Service, and $131,040 to the State of Iowa.

Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to the charge. According to the plea agreement, Cullen embezzled money from her employer, 21st Century Cooperative. Cullen wrote over $1.3 million in checks to herself over a period of six years and deposited the proceeds into a personal bank account. Cullen admitted that she failed to account for the embezzled funds in her 2009 tax return.

The case was investigated by the Cass County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports today (Friday) two students are absent without leave from the Clarinda Academy. The teens, one black male and one  white male, left the facility at around 11-a.m.  One is wearing a black hoodie,the other is wearing a red hoodie. The pair was last seen heading west into Page County from the Clarinda Academy Campus.

If you see two teens matching that description, call your local law enforcement agency.

BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – A bomb squad has determined that a package found in a vehicle at the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant poses no danger. The Omaha Public Power District says in a release that security workers noticed the package around 8:44 a.m. Friday. The vehicle was just outside what the district called the protected area of the plant. About 30 workers at a nearby warehouse were evacuated as a precaution, but the plant continued to operate.

The district says the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified, and a bomb squad from Omaha eventually was called in. The squad determined that the package didn’t contain any explosives. It’s not clear yet what the package did contain, if anything.

The Healthiest State Initiative and the State Fire Marshal Division are combining efforts to keep Iowans safe and a bit healthier. Organizers are encouraging Iowans to “Walk at the Whistle” next Wednesday, October 7th, as part of the fifth annual Healthiest State Walk.

Jeff Russell, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa and co-chair of the 2015 Healthiest State Walk, says “The annual Healthiest State Walk is a great opportunity for Iowans to show their support for Iowa to become the healthiest state in the nations. For this year’s Walk, we’re encouraging Iowans to walk in conjunction with the traditional noon whistle used in many communities across our state or with fire drills that will be planned for that date.”

National Fire Prevention Week is October 4th to October 10th this year, and the Healthiest State Initiative is partnering with the State Fire Marshal Division to coordinate fire drills with walks for schools and businesses on October 7th.

Delta Dental of Iowa is presenting sponsor of the 2015 Healthiest State Walk. The Healthiest State Initiative is a privately led, public effort that engages Iowans and their communities throughout the state. It involves individuals, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, not-for-profits and the public sector in a broad-based, community-focused effort. For more information, visit www.iowahealthieststate.com.

An official with the Iowa State Association of Assessors (ISAA) says Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson has been appointed by Jean Keller, President of the ISAA, to serve on the Legislative Committee of the Iowa State Association of Assessors. Nelson started her assessment career as an appraiser for Cass County, and then was appointed to her current position of Cass County Assessor in 2003.

She was re-appointed to a six-year term effective Jan. 2016 on Sept. 23rd, following a special meeting and vote by the Cass County Conference Board, which overturned an earlier vote of the Board that took place Sept. 3rd.

Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson